Foot And Ankle Surgery Specialist

Methodist Physician Group Orthopedic and Spine Center

Orthopedic Surgeons & Spine Surgeons located in Merrillville, IN & Gary, IN

The physicians with the Methodist Physician Group Orthopedic and Spine Center in Merrillville, Indiana specialize in orthopedic surgeries of all types, including procedures for the complex foot and ankle. There are several of reasons a patient might come to the Methodist Physician Group Orthopedic and Spine Center for surgery in these areas, including trauma like a fracture, disease, or a deformity that needs correction. If you suspect a problem that requires such surgery, schedule a consultation with the Methodist Physician Group Orthopedic and Spine Center today.

Foot and Ankle Surgery Q & A

When is it necessary to have surgery on the foot?

It will depend on the extent of the problem, but surgery is usually the last resort. If conventional treatment fails to correct a deformity or eradicate chronic pain, then surgical intervention is the next step to alleviate your discomfort and restore your foot or ankle function.

What are some examples of foot surgeries?

There are a number of common procedures done on the foot, including:

Bunion repair

Fusion for arthritis pain

Correct hammer toe

Remove heel spurs

Even the toenail can sometimes require surgical care. For example, if one or more toenails have suffered some trauma or infection, they’ll have to be surgically removed.

Do all ankle fractures require surgery?

Both the ankle and foot contain intricate joints, so surgical repair for fractures is common. However, it’s not the answer for every break. The specialists at Methodist Physician Group Orthopedic and Spine Center will look at several factors when determining if surgery is part of the care plan, such as:

Location of the break

Severity of the fracture

Overall health of the patient

Number of breaks in the bone

A severely broken ankle will require plates, rods or screws to reposition the bones properly. Something mild like a stress fracture, however, might heal nicely with just a brace or cast.

What is a stress fracture?

Stress fractures are injuries our doctors see in both ankles and feet because they tend to bear the brunt of the weight. Essentially, they’re overuse injuries that occur due to repetitive force. Certain disease processes, like osteoporosis, make bones more brittle, too. That increases the likelihood of incurring a stress fracture.

Think about a basketball player and the stress that playing the game has on both the foot and ankle, for example. Players run, jump, stop, and pivot frequently during both their time on the court and in practice. All that stress can lead to tiny cracks in the bone. Those cracks will likely spread until the player feels pain or has trouble walking, unless the player seeks professional medical help.

How is a stress fracture treated?

The board-certified specialists at Methodist Physician Group Orthopedic and Spine Center will carefully examine your injury and come up with a comprehensive treatment plan aimed at healing the bone and preventing further breaks. If it’s a chronic problem, it may include a combination of drug therapy, physical therapy, and surgery.